Belgium Railways Board (SNCB) approved an investment plan of EUR 3.2 billion. The plan will be implemented based on three action directions, such as improvement of provided services, modernization of rail station and rolling stock management and maintenance. The investment plan will unfold in the period 2018-2022.
Most of the announced investments, worth EUR billion, have been allocated to the procurement of rolling stock. Around 40% of Belgium Railways’ rolling stock fleet is over 30 year old and the state operator announced it planned to renew 20% of its fleet by 2023.
To that end, SNCB has already placed an order to a consortium of Alstom and Bombardier for 445 double-deckers, the M7 type. By 2022, the new rail vehicles will replace those out of date.
Under the contract, the total number of cars to be purchased could amount to 1,362. The initial cost of the order, for the 445 cars, is EUR 1.3 billion, of which EUR 787 million will go to Bombardier and EUR 471 million to Alstom.
If in the end, SNCB decides to purchase all the 1,362 cars, then the whole order could amount to EUR 3.3 billion and the amount to be paid to Bombardier will be of EUR 2.1 billion, while Alstom’s share will be of EUR 1.2 billion.
Apart from the procurement of new coaches, Belgium Railways also plan to upgrade several existing coaches which have reached their mid-lifecycle. This modernization programme has to be completed by 2023 as well. A programme with less costs, but launched in 2018 includes investments into a real time passenger information system. A new online ticketing system will also be launched in 2018.
With all the announced investments, Belgium Railways Board has turned down a proposal according to which the entire rolling stock fleet would have been equipped with Wi-Fi. The proposal has been rejected by Sophie Dutordoir, SNCB’s new CEO, because the investment would have been too high.
SNCB will grant EUR 300 million to the modernisation of train maintenance depots, focusing on the digitalisation of maintenance procedures.
Another significant amount, included in the 2018-2022 investment plan, worth EUR 1 billion, will be granted to the modernisation of rail stations in order to improve passengers’ experience. The budget for this measure also includes the continuation of modernisation works in important stations, such as Gent-Sint Pieters, Mons and Mechelen.
At the same time, investments contribute to improving rail traffic safety. Thus, Belgium Railways are planning to equip their entire rolling stock fleet currently in exploitation with ETCS until 2023.
“The Government has asked Belgian Railways to focus on the passengers’ needs. I am delighted with this new investment plan and with the fact that SNCB’s Board has met requirements so positively. Therefore, we will significantly improve passengers’ comfort and SNCB’s attractiveness by investing in the procurement of new rolling stock, effective, more pleasant stations and in other necessary facilities. Based on all these investments, the number of trains per kilometre will increase by 5%, which will be for the passengers’ good, of course, as they would be able to use more efficiently the transport mode with the lowest pollution rate”, declared Belgian Minister of Mobility, François Bellot.
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